Pa. highways Rt. 1, I-76, I-476, I-95 closing until 2 a.m.

HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Gov. Tom Corbett says the state is closeing interstates leading in and out of Philadelphia ahead of the expected arrival of Hurricane Sandy through early Tuesday morning.

Speaking to reporters during a briefing, Corbett said the network of interstates that surround the state’s most populous city — I-95, I-476, I-76 and I-676 — will be shutdown and closed starting at 7 p.m. Monday and remain so until Tuesday at 2 a.m.

He says that U.S. Route 1 in and out of Philadelphia will also be shut down, too.

Earlier, the state lowered the speed limit on most interstates to 45 mph.

Corbett says the state is also weighing the option of closing the Pennsylvania Turnpike, too, a sprawling 360-mile long toll-road that spans the state from east to west.

(earlier version)HARRISBURG (AP) — Speed restrictions are in effect on the Pennsylvania Turnpike and major highways in the Philadelphia area over safety concerns due to Hurricane Sandy.

PennDOT is reducing speeds to 45 mph on interstates 95 and 76, along with Interstate 476 and 676 as of 10 a.m. Monday. The same restriction is in effect on the turnpike in Bucks, Chester and Montgomery counties as well as other major roadways in and around Philadelphia area.

Fears that high winds could make travel dangerous also prompted officials to ban empty trucks and tractor-trailers, tandem trailers, motorcycles and RVs from those same roadways.

Motorists are being urged to avoid any unnecessary travel as Hurricane Sandy approaches. The National Weather Service says winds up to 75 mph are possible at the storm’s peak rainfall totals could approach 10 inches.